He currently uses a 2015 Ford Figo automatic. He likes to try out new stuff and is in great health but I don't want him to encounter hassles with the new vehicle.

BHPian goacom recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

First of all, let me preface this by saying that this car would be for my dad. He is 85 years old, but still in great health. He currently drives a 2015 Ford Figo with an automatic (DCT) transmission. He does not drive very much - maybe 10 km a day. Hence range is not an issue for him.

One key requirement for him is that the car needs to be small as parking can be a challenge. Two EV cars that would seem to fit the bill are the MG Comet EV and the Tata Punch EV. The former is just too small, as there are times when the trips could involve having 5 passengers.

The Tata Punch EV seems in theory to be the perfect size, with the LR having a decent amount of range. It actually is shorter than his Ford Figo and the added height should make ingress easier.

However, I understand that Tata vehicles are prone to having a lot of bugs and issues that apparently never get resolved. I don't live in India and am not too familiar with Tatas. Checking online, it seems that some folks have complained about the Punch EV having all kinds of software issues, with the shifter and some basic controls. The last thing I want is for my dad to encounter hassles like this as he is too old to deal with nuisances like this.

Folks may ask if an EV is absolutely necessary. The answer is no. Still, I think, the refined nature of EVs within this small size would make his experience much better. It would also in theory reduce his need to service the car and eliminate the obvious need to fill it up at a petrol station. Plus, my dad likes to try out new stuff, so this would perhaps keep his motivation to continue being active into his twilight years.

We are not in any rush to get a replacement car, but I would still like to get it done by the end of the year. What do folks think? Is that sufficient time for Tata to fix the various issues, or are my expectations of Tata too high? Thank you.

Here's what GTO had to say about the matter:

This is the biggest reason to get him a new car. After driving a Figo for so long, let the man enjoy something new! Give him one more thing to smile about.

• I love the idea of the Comet, but find it too barebones & basic. It will be a massive downgrade from your Figo. Avoid.
• Punch EV is very good. If you can wait just a year (fresh new launch), nothing like it. The 2025 Punch will be a better car.
• My question is, why stick just to EVs for him? The Figo is anyway now 9 years old. Instead of a 15-lakh rupee Punch EV, how about a great Compact SUV like the Kia Sonet?

I'd pick between the Punch EV & Kia Sonet for him. Let him test-drive both.

Here's what BHPian Shreyans_Jain had to say about the matter:

I am a fan of the MG Comet, the sheer space they have managed to squeeze inside that small footprint is genius. The car can actually seat 4 adults comfortably, something the Nexon EV struggles to do. MG has been running buyback schemes on the Comet, which makes it a fantastic value. The car is Nano level good for driving and parking in tight spaces. Pls take another good hard look at this little gem.

As for Punch EV LR, it is the default option if the MG is deemed too small. It’s a mighty fine city car, and the rear seating is not compromised like it is on the Nexon EV. More importantly, the ride quality is much better than the Comet. Now, the thing is that all niggles, real and not so real, get blown way out of proportion when it comes to Tata. I am a happy owner of a Nexon EV LR and will recommend the Punch LR wholeheartedly. Go for the top variant with the bigger screen and 360 camera. They are the best in class and make reversing/parking much easier.

Here's what BHPian thomahawk had to say about the matter:

I bought a Tiago EV for my father as he rarely used his current car.

I would recommend that you get your father to take a longish test drive of the car before committing to this. I made the mistake of making the decision without getting my father involved (was sort of a birthday surprise). Since your father is already used to an automatic, it would be easier for him. My perspective on EVs has changed now. I wouldn't recommend a Tata EV for senior citizens now because of the following reasons:

• Tata after sales service is not great. A Tata vehicle will have niggles and an EV will have niggles that will be hard for the service center to diagnose and fix (my father asked me to sell the car off, but due to poor resale value it didn't make sense. Plus, I enjoy the performance of the car so thought I'll keep it). If your father has help to keep the car sorted, it might be fine.
• The car behavior changes based on SoC%. Full charge? No regen (it would feel as if the breaks are suddenly inadequate). Limp mode? Car struggles on inclines and you can't execute an overtake. Then there is the issue where the car leaps forward when you have slowed down for rumble strips or gutters (It is as if the regen suddenly turns off - it takes you by surprise even if you half expect it).
• The car does a lot of audio cues for stuff and sometimes you miss things. The light on the rotary dial of lower variants is hard to see in daylight. You need to make sure the car is in drive by looking at the MID. I have got myself into some tricky situations when I was in a hurry. Sometimes you might think the car is in drive and merge into the road only to be stuck in the middle of the road in neutral (especially if you were parked on an incline). The car wouldn't let you shift to drive till the car came to a standstill. Nobody expects you would stop the car in the middle of the road suddenly and fiddle with the rotary dial. I don't use the car frequently and that might be why I'm still not used to this.
• Expenses? I bought the car thinking that the per km expenses would be on the lower side and my father wouldn't be worried about the expenses and would be using the car more. An accident will offset this pretty quickly. The EV insurance scene is still muddy.
• The car doesn't have a spare tire and one has to use the inflator with a puncture repair kit.
• Your home wiring and electric supply have to be sorted. Otherwise, that is another thing you'll have to be worried about.
• You need access to a 2nd car if the EV is in the service center. Diagnostics and repairs related to batteries take a long while (perhaps months). There are no clear telltale signs of an impending failure so no preventive maintenance is possible either.

My father also likes trying out new stuff (especially gizmos and tech) and he never liked the Tiago EV because of the niggles and the EV traits (he doesn't love the sudden acceleration - which I absolutely love. My father used to drive pedal to the metal when he was young - now he can't).

As GTO suggested, since your father has low usage consider ICE ATs. They might be more predictable (and reliable compared to a Tata). Cars like Sonet are loaded with features so there are a lot of things to try and have fun with.

Here's what BHPian KA20NexonEV had to say about the matter:

Having driven Nexon EV for more than 2 years and being aware of some of the minor issues in EVs, I would strongly suggest you buy a petrol automatic car for your Dad considering his age. The reasons are:

• The charge level needs to be regularly monitored and the car needs to be charged at the right intervals. Connecting and disconnecting the charger to and from the car itself needs a lot of patience, which senior citizens might not have.
• The charging gun sometimes gets stuck even with slow chargers which will need manual unlocking, which senior citizens won't find it easy. Sometimes the charging process itself will not start due to earthing fault, plug overheating or some other issues.
• EVs do not have mechanical parking gear, which makes the use of hand brakes compulsory while parking. Senior citizens might forget to pull hand brakes when parked.
• As EV technology is fairly new in India, the charging and discharging patterns need to be continuously monitored using apps to be sure that the battery is charging and discharging as per specifications. The range shown on the odometer is not accurate and might suddenly drop in the end.
• Certain features like hill assist will behave differently while navigating slowly on speed breakers which the driver should be aware of. (For eg. in my EV I have observed that the car suddenly accelerates while reversing slowly on a hump in my parking, assuming it to be a hill).
• Most of the fast chargers in India behave unpredictably while charging, either by refusing to charge or by refusing to release the charging gun after charge. Using different apps for different makes of chargers is also frustrating.
• Long-distance travelling needs careful planning due to the limited availability of fast chargers on the route.
• The torque/pick-up is too much in an EV so the driver needs to have good control on the accelerator pedal.

If not for senior citizens, I would strongly recommend EVs over ICE.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I installed a rear dashcam, wireless mobile charger and 12V splitter. I also upgraded my car's head unit.

BHPian AYP recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

A few minor upgrades, and a major one

Upgraded the HU of my car to the Pioneer Z6350BT

More details on this thread

Rear dashcam

While I had installed the front dashcam way back in 2019, the lack of a rear dashcam was always there at the back of my mind. While a dual-channel dashcam would have been the ideal solution, getting a system with the same quality as my front dashcam would have cost me at least 10k. An upgrade in real terms would have cost around 20k. Hence decided to go for a standalone rear dashcam while saving that extra money for a Viofo triple channel in the future. Went for the DDPAI Mini Pro-

This is how it looks from the outside-

This is how it looks from the inside-

Wireless charger

I wanted to complete the wireless trio, i.e. wireless AA, wireless CP and wireless charger.

I ordered it from Alibaba. Can charge a phone with a max speed of 15W. Total cost was 14 USD (inclusive of shipping).

Cupholder with wireless charger

Ever since I had installed the front armrest, my cupholders had become redundant. I tried a couple of cupholders over the last few years but none of them worked until this one.

While I don't sip on a beverage too often in my car but when I did, I had to use the bottle holder which was quite inconvenient and unergonomic. This cup holder has finally solved that problem. The base of it fits in the 1st cupholder and is then tightened. It fits perfectly ahead of the armrest.

It has its cons though. While using the cupholder, the handbrake lever gets too close to it. Also, while having long-sized cups like Starbucks Venti, for instance, the gears have to be slotted meticulously. So while this is not an ideal solution, it is definitely the best I have come across given my situation with the armrest.

The idea of getting a cupholder like this came to my mind after I got myself a wireless charger. If this idea had come to my mind before getting the stand-alone wireless charger, I may not have ordered it. However, I have very recently started using 2 phones- an iPhone and an Android. So it all worked out in the end.

LED Light for rear cabin

The Figo does not come with a light at the rear and this made using the phone's flash a must many times. I went through this thread by Reinhard.

But neither do I have the technical skill nor the heart to take the steps that he took. During my research, I came across this Baseus option.

I ordered it but had to return it for 3 reasons-

• The magnetic adhesion wasn't very strong.
• There was no way to hang it.
• Even if I was able to stick it permanently, the switch to turn it off or on is at the back of it, making it quite inconvenient.

I came across some other light options similar to Baseus but poor reviews kept me away. I also came across some battery-operated options but was apprehensive about having batteries in the car. I finally came across this option:

I had earlier tried to keep it at a fixed place but it gave more of a footwell lighting vibes.

I keep it on auto(it detects motion) and as per my usage, I get around 2 weeks of usable life out of it before it needs to be charged.

12V Splitter

Due to my increasing power demands, I decided to order a 12v Splitter. The reasonably priced ones on Amazon had terrible reviews. Finally decided to order one from Alibaba. Costed me 18 USD but had to pay another INR 744 in addition to customs. The same is available on Amazon for 5k and on Amazon USA for around 20$.

There are 2 ports in the first charger. 1 is connected to the front dashcam whereas the 2nd one has a short USB C cable for charging my phone. The 2nd charger has 3 slots, one of which powers the rear dashcam while the others power the wireless chargers. In addition, the splitter itself has 2 more USB A ports and 1 USB C port. It has a total rated output of 200W.

One other major reason why I went for a splitter is to cut off the power to the dashcams and any accessories when the car is switched off. In typical Ford fashion, the 12V outlet stays alive even after the car is turned off. The splitter has 2 switches on the sides which allow me to cut off the power to either of the chargers which is a boon. While it's still not as convenient as the power switching off automatically, it is much better than having to remove the whole thing after turning off the car and fitting it back in later.

I can't deny that installing the splitter along with the other accessories has resulted in a busy look. There are also the wires which are connected to the HU- USB C, Aux and HDMI. I did choose function over form.

Centre roof lamp

Installed the lights from the Fiesta

LED Lights

No, I am not talking about using LEDs in the reflectors. I am using the good old Osram Night Breaker 200 which is supposed to be Osram's best halogens. I did upgrade the front parking lamps, rear number plate lamps, boot light and the centre roof lights to Osram T10 LEDs. Costs Rs. 387 a pair.

Protective sleeve for camera wire

The power for the rear camera has been taken from the left tail lamp. However, a small bit of the wire was exposed and was getting squished. I also noticed that water was also passing through this while passing from the channel at the rear. Hence, I decided to get a protective sleeve for this exposed bit of wire.

So, this completes the facelift of my car. Let's see what the future holds.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Asked the folks there for a test drive outside of the basement, at first they were a bit adamant but eventually let me take it out.

BHPian swamy_r34nismo recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

So, at the start of 2023, I was finally in a position to throw the switch on buying my first car. As it was going to be driven daily in the harsh Bangalore traffic and would be modified a bit in the future, I decided to go with a used car. The requirements were pretty straightforward: it had to be a hatchback, diesel (I've always been a diesel enthusiast), with not too many kilometers on the odometer, a clean well-kept example, and a budget of a maximum of 6 lakhs.

Options I had in mind:

• 2018-2020 Ford Figo TDCI: This was the top priority because of the gem of a diesel engine it has. It's really hard to find an example.
• 2016-2018 Hyundai i20 CRDI: Pretty good engine. However, the driving lacks that raw feeling, in my opinion.
• 2014-2018 Volkswagen Polo TDI: Who doesn’t like a Polo?

For the sake of convenience and the added benefits, I started looking for vehicles on online platforms like Cars24, Spinny, etc.

Test Drive 1: 2019 Ford Figo Titanium Blu TDCI:

• Perfect spec, dual-tone car (white + black), 2nd owner, had about ~52k Kms on the dash. The folks at Cars24 were kind enough to send the car 20+ kms in Bangalore traffic for a test drive.
• When the car did arrive, it looked perfect from 20 feet away. But oh boy, it was rough. The car had multiple repainted panels and not a great color match. Though Cars24 confirmed that the car was not accidental, it had clearly been in a fender bender.
• The headlights and taillights were plastic welded, and the front suspension mounts were redone. Also, the steering wheel would not return to center. The interior had a few broken panels, and the rattle was horrible.
• I had a word with the executive, he was pretty firm that the car had never been in an accident. Nonetheless, I had to pass on this deal.

<I somehow misplaced the images clicked of the car >

Test Drive 2: 2018 Ford Figo Titanium TDCI:

• Saw this car on Spinny website and it was a very clean example. First Owner with 55k Kms running.
• Had all 5 tyres replaced recently, fairly new battery.
• But, the car was tentatively booked by a gentleman. This is where it got interesting , the person who booked the car was not residing in Bangalore. Even i happened to be on a work trip at the moment.
•     Spinny retains the booking for 3 days before releasing the inventory back to the public. As he could not go and see the vehicle or complete the transaction, the car did get released. However, it was booked again by him.
• I contacted the Spinny executive, they could not do much about it.
• This re-booking fiasco went on for another 3 to 4 cycles, around 10-12 days.
• On 1st of May, the inventory was released and for my luck it was open. Immediately booked the car by paying a nominal fee and rushed to their site where the car was being held. The executives there walked me through the entire documents, pics and the inspection report. All the things checked out and I was ready to take the vehicle for a spin.
• It was parked in a Mall basement, and the executive asked me to take it around the basement. Engine fired right up at the first crank, smooth as butter with the usual diesel clatter.
• It was almost in mint condition except a few dings and scratches here and there which Spinny could not sort out.
• Drove the car and loved it, and had a wide smile on my face. Asked the folks there for a test drive outside of the basement, at first they were a bit adamant but eventually let me take it out. Went through all the gears, the drive was very smooth.
• There was a slight noise coming in from one of the rear suspension, which they mentioned while explaining. After a 2-3 km drive, I was completely sold and made up my mind to go for it. The pricing was also right at my budget point

Booking Experience:

• Paid 10k to block the car and start the other procedures. Now I had two options, either to get financing from Spinny or get it done from outside. I went ahead with Spinny as they promised a smooth onboarding.
• The documents required for financing were shared within a few hours. They said they would sanction the loan within 24 hours.
• The strange part about this process was that most mainstream banks declined as the make of the vehicle was Ford. Not sure if this is because of their exit from India.
• One bank did agree to finance, their process was manual and took a lot of time to complete. The physical home and work verification took a good 4 days to complete.
• Finally the process was done and got a nod from the bank to go ahead. The good folks at Spinny contacted for the delivery process.

Delivery Experience:

The car was all prepped while the finance process was being taken care of. They offered me two options: Get the vehicle delivered at home or pick it up from their location.

I opted for the location pickup. Upon reaching, all the pending paperwork was completed with the car history, warranty, transfer, etc.

And there it was all polished, waxed and decked up ready to be picked. The entire process took around 30 mins and we were out with the car.

Pros and Cons of going ahead with Online platforms:

(These details may vary from platform to platform, but more or less the same offerings across the board)

Pros:

• They source well kept example with a complete detailed inspection and health report
• 3 months or 5k Kms comprehensive and 1 year or 15k Kms or engine and drivetrain warranty
• 1 year free roadside assistance
• 7 days no questions asked return policy
• Well documented process, literally received a 20 pager agreement during the sign off

Cons:

• You cannot negotiate the final prize, the one which is quoted is the final prize
• Few panels that are prone to scratches such as bumpers are repainted by them before listing the vehicles. The downside to this is poor quality of work, there are spots where the body work is suboptimal and clear coat rundown marks are visible here and there.
• They claim the cars to be non-accidental, however, there are vehicles that have signs of previous accidental repairs.

Initial impression of the car:

• Runs and drives beautifully, Cannot be more happy with the engine performance in its stock form.
• Fuel efficiency is excellent, constant 16-17 kmpl in city driving conditions. Yet to test on the long highway runs.
• The Interior could have been better, like the quality of materials used.
• Quite a bit of road noise enters the cabin.
• Handles like a champ, you throw it into a corner and it sticks.

Future plans:

Aesthetics:

• Figo S conversion (grille, spoiler and black accents)
• A set of Lenso wheels after the current tyres are due for change
• Window Tint (Need suggestions on this)

Performance:

• Diesel Tronic or Code6 stage 1 (Need suggestions on this: Don’t want to go too crazy as this will be a daily driver)
• Figo S suspension swap

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

As soon as the existing HU was opened up, I was told that wire cutting would be required to enable the steering controls.

BHPian AYP recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello everyone,

The purpose of this thread is to take you through my journey of ICEing my Figo and to also serve as a guide for the Figo and the Aspire owners who want to upgrade their infotainment system (non-Android).

Prologue

The itch to upgrade the ICE started back in 2019 with all the new cars coming with huge screens with support for Android Auto and Carplay. Even the Aspire and the Freestyle had the updated Sync3 systems. I remember coming across various Android systems during this time but I was concerned with their long-term performance and cheap-looking UI.

And then COVID hit us all and the thoughts of an upgrade quickly left my mind. Of course, the extended warranty also made me wary of such an upgrade.

June 2023

I came across these 'Woodman' Android systems and started to search more about them and Android stereos in general. While the cheap looking UI was still an issue, there were a lot of positives. However, the deeper I went into this, the more I realised why Androids weren't the way forward for me. My reasons for not going for Android are as follows-

• Cheap-looking UI. No offense to the Android users but I really hate the generic Android HU UIs. I tried to come up with a different word to substitute the word 'cheap' but none could quite deliver the message more appropriately.
• Long-term reliability and performance- Most of us are Android users and even with 6, 8, or 12 gigs of RAM, more often than not, in a matter of 2-3 years, our phones do slow down and after 5-6 years, they start to become unusable. Most of these Androids have 2 gigs or 4 gigs of RAM. There are 8GB options available as well but they cost more than 30-35k and even then, with 8 gigs of RAM, the long-term reliability is still a question mark.
• Updating the apps- Since an Android HU is nothing but an Android tablet adapted to function like an HU, it needs to be updated just like an Android phone. In contrast, the HUs from Sony and Pioneer rarely require updates and when it comes to AA and CP, it is your phone that does all the heavy lifting, and all the apps are updated as long as you update these apps on your phone.
• Size of the HU- Unless you go for an ancient Android HU, you only get 9'' and 10'' Android HUs. 9'' and 10'' have become the standard size for Android HUs now but the centre console of the Figo is clearly not suited for these sizes. This is how a 9-inch Android HU looks in the Figo-

As you can see, a 9-inch HU looks quite out of place in a Figo or an Aspire. Also, the hazard button switch does not fit properly in the frame.

July 2023

I got the RCD 360 Pro for my Father's Jetta which comes with wired AA and CP.

This made the itch to upgrade even harder not to scratch.

August 2023-

The itch to upgrade was ever-growing, but a few things kept holding me back.

• Extended warranty-

My car was and is still under extended warranty. Ford has in fact introduced EW for the 8th year as well. So I can, if I want, have EW until August 2025. Currently, my car is covered until August 2024. And while coupler-to-coupler fitting does not generally void warranty, you never know. There is always a chance.

• Stage 2 Remap-

At a lesser cost than an ICE upgrade, I could get my car remapped to Stage 2 from the current Stage 1. However, since my car is under EW, I was hesitant to take this route. And thus, I was caught in this never-ending cycle.

Itch to upgrade ICE- Warranty concerns- Thinking of spending the money for a stage 2 remap- Warranty concerns- Back to square one.

To be very honest, the trigger for me was the introduction of the 8th year EW by Ford. Yes, instead of being a deterrent, it acted as a catalyst since I was quite sure that I didn't wanna wait that long for an upgrade. And thus, started a rather painful journey of ICEing my Figo.

The first step towards getting an ICE was to get a frame suitable for a 7 inch HU. I posted about it on my ownership thread.

BHPian SaiSW responded and suggested me to approach Wavehertz, Delhi for the frame. I did message him for the same but was put off by the high quoted price of 4k. They only had 1 frame in stock. So at the end of August, I ordered, a 7 inch Frame suitable for my car from here and here on Amazon-

However, the final product which came was actually a 9-inch frame. This is what it looked like-

I reached out again to Wavehertz and by the time I was ready to order, the frame had gone out of stock. Throughout the next couple of days, I contacted at least 15 car accessory vendors throughout India for a 7-inch frame without any success. I was left perplexed and frustrated that my ICE upgrade may not proceed ahead due to the lack of availability of the 7-inch frame. These are the perks of owning a non-popular car from a non-popular brand that has shut shop in India. Call it my luck or whatever, but an accessory shop very close to me in Vashi (Navi Mumbai) had 1 frame in stock and offered the same for 150 bucks. However, this frame was in very poor condition. Pretty sure that this was at least 3-4 years old. This is how it looked-

And with this, I thought that my troubles were over. Oh, how wrong was I?

September 2023-

I was contemplating the HU to go for and had almost finalised the Sony XAV-AX6000. It comes with wireless AA and CP and wired AA. It also comes with HDMI and a single-camera input. But then, I saw this post by BHPian Yesterdaysnews.

It made me contemplate between the Pioneer DMH-Z6350BT and the Sony XAV-AX6000 but the price at which the Pioneer was being offered made me go for it. I got in touch with BHPian Yesterdaysnews and we agreed on a price of 26k for the HU. I did though also procure an amp and sub from him and paid 31k in total. Meanwhile, I had got the frame Hydro dipped at H20 Graphix in Dadar. Paid 1800 for the same. This is how the frame looked after-

I had also ordered the required accessories to go with the HU, namely, the micro HDMI to HDMI male cable, the USB C cable (male to female, USB OTG cable, the HDMI male to USB C adapter, the aux cable and the front and rear cameras. I have provided the links to all the accessories that I ordered in a later post.

After getting the HU and the frame, I was all excited and went to get the HU fitted on 16th September(Saturday) at Paras Car Decor in Vashi. As soon as the existing HU was opened up, I was told that wire cutting would be required to enable the steering controls. This was not acceptable to me. I asked the fitter as to how we can avoid wire cutting and I was suggested to order a suitable coupler from Delhi.

Post this, I was running from pillar to post and going to various other installers and also contacting some others over Whatsapp to get a solution to this. Out of desperation, I went to an installer who wasn't very good and he ended up damaging my HDMI cable. Lesson learned- never make a major decision when you are either very happy or very desperate.

I got in touch with BHPian VWALLstar and he suggested me to get in touch with a different installer in Vashi.

After going to this installer, I got to know that there is a separate wiring harness that is required to get steering controls working in a Pioneer. This is what that harness looks like-

This was missing from the package which was sent to me. The owner at Paras Car Decor had 1 such harness with him but even he wasn't sure if this was the right one. Anyway, I went back to him straight away and got the harness for 500 bucks as a failsafe.

I contacted Wavehertz again and ordered the coupler along with the radio coupler. However, I was told even by Wavehertz that wire cutting shall be needed for Pioneer. Post this, I waited for the harness to arrive patiently.

October 2023-

As they say, An idle mind is the devil's workshop, during my wait for the harness to arrive, I started to think of my upgrade more holistically. I was concerned about the wiring and its positioning. Putting them in the glovebox was the safe route. However, 2 factors made me reconsider this-

• Putting wires in the glovebox is as good as not having wires in the first place. They never get used.
• As per the feedback from BHPian SaiSW, the wires in the glovebox get squished when the glovebox is closed.

These factors made me think of an alternate positioning for the wires and this trim in my car caught my attention-

I was initially thinking of ordering this trim which used to come with the Titanium+ trim-

But since I also needed to have an outlet for the HDMI cable, I quickly realised that this would not work. Finally, I decided to make use of the current trim itself. I ordered this rectangular grommet.

The idea was to make a cut in the existing trim and fit the grommet inside that opening from which the wires shall be routed out.

However, this turned out to be a size too big for the trim. I then ordered this circular grommet (19mm open grommet is out of stock).

I got the trim laser cut and fit this grommet inside the hole (the hole was 21mm in Diameter)-

What I also discovered during this time was that the USB C cable that I had ordered had gone bad, the male part of the cable had gone loose and wouldn't stay put inside any female slot. So I ordered another cable of UGREEN make.

In the meantime, the coupler from Wavehertz had also arrived-

Finally, armed with all the accessories, I headed to the accessory shop to get the fitment done.

Continue reading AYP's upgrade experience for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

A sleeper on roads and a proper assassin when given the beans. Can give cars 4 times their price a run for its money!

BHPian jithin23 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hey BHPians, it has been an eventful year for me with a lot of waves going up and down and again up in my life, that's why I could not post much about my other 2 Fords at home (EcoSport Diesel). However, life had a very interesting turn during the month of September 2023, a car I had zeroed in on back in 2021 and I unexpectedly picked this car up from another town within 24 hours! I think this might be the only ownership thread about this gem of a car on the planet after Giri's thread on the same car. His treasure trove of a thread. I'll keep my story and review as short and crisp as possible.

A heads up on the Figo 1.5 Dragon AT

What I Love:

• Oodles of power right from the word go. Can smoke cars 3-5 times its price band. I have almost done a 180-degree sweep of the speedometer (I won't mention the speed though).
• Very flickable in corners. Feels like a go-kart and stable at any speed!
• Precise handling and steering control holds its line on corners (It's a Ford, so that's a given!)
• Decent space for a family of 4
• S mode gives a proper sports car feel. The character of the car changes completely.
• Decently equipped and way ahead in terms of safety at that point in time (no other manufacturer gave ESP, HLA and TCS at that price point for an AT)
• Surprisingly Fuel Efficient (I get 10-11 km/l in Bangalore city traffic and 14-16 on the highway if I drive in a sane manner).
• A Reliable Torque Converter gearbox

What I loathe:

• Headlights are pathetic! Desperately begs for an upgrade. Even could have integrated projector fogs
• Speedometer misses out on 2 trip meters and looks too basic
• Ford could have offered sync 3 on such a rare car (Anyway, I'll get one installed from a total Aspire/Freestyle)
• 14" tyres do not do justice. 15" wheels are mandatory for this car (I've fixed this too)
• Rear bottle holders and a central armrest could have been provided
• Limited tuning potential as it is a NA engine(but stock performance is more than adequate for a quarter mile drag)
• NVH could have been a bit better
• For Heaven's sake they could have given a button on the boot door to open. The only way one can open is through the headlight switch or the keyfob.

This is the sixth Ford we currently have in the family (Present: 2x 2018 EcoSport Diesels, a 2016 Figo Diesel which is owned by my cousin and a lot has been mentioned about these two EcoSports in this forum. Past: The Ford Ikon Josh machine 1.3 and a Ford Escort 1.8 Diesel). People might call me crazy or insane for owning 3 cars of a defunct brand, but the merits do make me find ways to keep all 3 Fords healthy! The keys to these cars will answer the question of fence-sitters. Maybe someday I might pick a Ranger or an Everest or a Bronco.

The current triplets in my garage from the Ford Stable

Without further ado, let me get to the story of how the Shadow came home.

On Aug 30, one of our friends owned a Figo 1.5 Dragon AT in Bangalore and a close friend of mine was on the lookout for a performance AT within a budget. We drove this car in Bangalore traffic and we were amazed by the way this car putters around in town. The engine+ gearbox combo is what made this car so special! What's worse is only less than 1% of the population(including Ford Dealerships and Employees) knew that such a car existed in the market.

Exactly a week later, another close friend of mine had casually shared an ad of a Ford Figo 1.5 AT for the one who was going to buy this car and I too was looking at the pics and the engine specs on Ford Etis. We had the entire service history checked within half an hour in Bangalore FASS and Voila, records were clean with warranty up to May 2024. Then I requested a friend of mine in Chennai to test drive the car before we left for Chennai.

The next day morning at about 7 am we set off to Chennai in my friend's EcoSport all excited to bring the Figo home and suddenly a twist happened at Sriperumbudur toll. My Friend had to drop the plan of buying the car due to personal reasons and he looked a bit sad. I looked at his expression and immediately asked him are you sure you're dropping off the plan of buying this car and he was affirmative on his stand. The next moment I called up my folks at home and asked them can we pick up this car and the answer was an instant yes! Within no time I had arranged for a personal loan and arranged to take some amount from my savings. I knew this was such a rare car which is a collector's spec car(only 500-600 units were produced and this 1.5 Dragon AT torque converter spec was made only in 2019, the 2021 version came with a 1.2L NA engine) and that too black being my favourite colour and the icing on the cake was it was a Ford(that doo-doo-doo sound itself is enough for me to get sold on it when you open the door, that's how the first EcoSport came home), which made my decision an instant one. I did not even care if I was driving a TN-registered car in KA. Anyway, all my cars keep travelling frequently to Chennai and other parts of India, so other state registration isn't a concern. Moreover, this can used as a better car to roam around in town.

By the time we reached Chennai, I was trying to research the Figo 1.5 Dragon AT but only Giri's thread was available. Thanks a ton for sharing your experience with this Figo, else nobody in the country would have known such a gem existed! A couple of YouTube videos from South Africa are available on this car. However, the South African version was equipped with Sync 3 and cruise control in the Titanium version. Sadly, none of the Indian automotive media houses nor Ford's own staff knew that such a firecracker existed in the market. By 11 ish we headed to the seller's place in Nanganallur and in 15 mins we decided that this car was coming home to Bangalore. Though I was not quite happy with the way the seller dealt with us, we held our ground only because of the car. It was too good to let it go! I paid far less than what one would pay for an entry-level AMT hatchback(A shade above 5 Lakhs). The bank glitches made me wait another day before I could get the keys of the Shadow. The next day evening I took the keys of the Shadow and tanked up at the HP outlet near Chennai Airport.

Youtube Video reference

South African Brochure

The brochure for the 1.5 Dragon AT spec which was sold in India

Shame on Ford for failing to market such a gem of a machine! This was available in India at 9L on-road back in 2019.

First Glimpse of Shadow

On Sep 9, the Shadow reached my Bangalore house and initially, I was guilt-tripping because I had never bought a car this quickly in my life! After driving it more in the city and a bit of a spirited run, I realised that there's one life so why not enjoy this car to its maximum potential? September 9 is a very important day as that (Sep 9, 2005 or 06 I'm not sure but the date was Sep 9 for sure) was the day they launched the ladder on frame first gen Endeavour and Sep 9, 2021, was the day Ford announced that the Indian operations will be closed :(

Since the interior is almost identical to the other variants, I'll be sharing my perspective on the Figo Dragon AT. I'll anyway be attaching pics of my car.

A quick review of the Figo 1.5 Dragon AT

Engine

This engine is a straight bolt-on from the EcoSport and only about 500-600 units are present in the country with this spec in the Figo. I have driven the EcoSport AT and it feels very smooth and linear to drive. The same engine in the Figo feels too eager to be pushed to the redline and is a rev-happy engine. Surprisingly, if you drive this engine at higher speeds, the fuel economy is better. 123 Bhp and 150 Nm torque is quite good for a hatchback and second only to the Punto Abarth T-jet with 140 Bhp. The power is instantly felt and it's very smooth at all gears. Overall a well-calibrated engine. Had there been a turbo added onto this, this car would literally shatter records. The engine does 0-100 in under 10 seconds in stock form, which is impressive for a 3-cylinder. The only downside is the mild vibrations due to the inherent design of the engine. The aural bliss above 4000 rpm is music to the ears.

Usually, Torque Converters provide an average performance, but in this particular car, the gearbox behaves similar to a manual transmission. Quick shifts and smooth gear changes and you will feel exactly at which gear the car is at. Also, the car downshifts or upshifts exactly as per your throttle input. S mode changes the character of the car and it propels like a beast unleashed and zips through traffic in a whiff. However, there is a small delay whilst using the manual shifter while transitioning from S to manual control. The manual buttons are on the gear lever and the revs are held up to 6,000rpm without any intervention from the gearbox. Quite a reliable gearbox and the AT variants get a lifetime warranty on the transmission as far as I've heard from my sources.

Ride, Handling and NVH

The ride is neutral overall and a bit stiff at higher speeds. Handling is in another league with the 15" tyres and you can attack corners or weave through traffic like a knife slicing hot butter. By the time the other car can figure out which car passed by, you are way past them. Boot space is less than the other hatches on sale, but does the job

I am in talks with a few people in the Indian Automotive Media scene to give a review about this car and give it the recognition it deserves. I will share the video link once that is complete.

Tyres

I do not know what the previous owner did to this car, but this car hasn't been taken care of at all. There were hard water spots on the body and to top it off 3 out of 4 tyres had cuts which were on the sidewall and the previous owner was sheepishly smiling. Felt like giving him a piece of my mind and gave him at the end of the day. The tyres were shod with MRF ZV2K with a tyre profile of 185/60 R14 which looks like a tall guy wearing a small size shoe.

The next day I immediately placed an order for the Figo Blu's 15" wheels which look sexy in Black and will complement Shadow's character as the 14" is severely under-tyred and lifts off when you do a quick lane change. Each wheel costs about 9k for the Figo blu alloys and I wrapped them with Vredestein tyres with a tyre profile of 195/55 R15. I've driven about 3,500 kms in 2 months and I think the Vredestein tyres are average at best. The wet grip isn't great. Yokohama S-drive is a much better tyre suited for the character of this car.

While changing the tyre size of the car, please make sure that you’re changing the tyre size dimensions in the BCM using Forscan. It needs to be done in mm and multiplied by 0.968(this is the tolerance factor as mentioned in the Forscan forum). If the size isn't corrected, this can cause braking and gearshift quality to be slightly diluted.

Overall Feedback

A sleeper on roads and a proper assassin when given the beans. Can give cars 4 times their price a run for its money! I'm able to tell this confidently because I've driven a lot of cars in my friend's circle ranging from 3L to 1 Crore and this machine is seriously something else! But why Ford, not even a 1.5 Dragon badge which this car deserves. Had marketing and a bit more functional features been present, this car would have outsold the competition, that is the kind of potential this car carries. Safe, Fun to drive yet frugal on the wallet!

A few pictures of Shadow

What makes this particular Figo interesting is that it shares most of its mechanicals with the bigger brother (the EcoSport Dragon AT). That way, spares too aren't an issue. Moreover, Ford's service and support have been supportive for a very long time especially after they quit operations.

Current Mods

The mod I have added in my Figo is cruise control. The bezel and buttons are a direct fit from the global fiesta and the pre-facelift EcoSport(2013-17). It works like a charm on my highway drives and it's a DIY job. It does help in bumping up FE too. For the bezel to fit the Figo Triplets, you will need to file the lock of the bezel and then make it fit flush onto the existing steering wheel. All you need is forscan and the same method is applicable to activate the modules as the EcoSport.

I have also added sports pedals on the stock pedals. It's a straight fit from the EcoSport. I've added the OE rear spoiler too(will share the part number soon) Also another member from our group has added a sunglass holder and rear reading lamps in the Figo 1.2 AT. I Will ask him to share some more pics and in due course of time, I will share detailed steps on how to get this done in the Figo and EcoSport.

The accelerator pedal sits in flush. For the brake pedal, you need to remove the rubber pad and then fit the sports pedal. The same procedure can be followed for MT too with respect to brake and clutch.

Post-installation

If someone intends to pick one in the used market I'll give you a few tips on how to identify this car:

1. This car was made only in 2019. If someone mentions any other year means it is a DCT or someone is trying to take you for a ride
2. VIN: This particular batch of cars has the second last character ending with the letter 'K'. Can be found on the RC card or on the front left bottom corner of the Windshield. For Example: "MAJAXXMRKAKL*****" where K denotes the year and L denotes the month of manufacture.
3. This car came with the honeycomb-type grill and NOT the Aston Martin-type grill
4. A stock car will have 8 spoke 14" wheels, you can refer to the above pictures for identification. Attaching the image here
5. This car came only in the Titanium variant with 2 airbags and a TCS button near the bottle holder in the centre console.

Do not worry too much about the state of registration as there are ways to use the car without re-registering. If celebrities can use PY or other cars on the road, so can we, the taxpayers do the same without any hesitation. Maintenance too is quite reasonable which costs about 4-5k Rupees at 10,000km intervals or 1 year.

My parting views: A car which is purely functional and will definitely put a smile on your face whenever you drive it around! It might not be a mobile phone on wheels unlike a few cars which boast bigger touchscreens and air purifiers or keep changing their design every 2 years, but it certainly delivers the utility of what a car is supposed to do in spades i.e Drive well without breaking the bank, your bones and keep you happy behind the wheel! Way better than the sea of AMTs and smaller capacity petrol. For those who are worried about Ford's future too, for the next 5-8 years, these cars can still run and be maintained at a Ford Service centre.

Moreover, this particular car has brought smiles to everyone who has driven this car, even MT owners have appreciated this car a lot. I've pitted this against the stock Polo GT too and this car is a proper competitor for the Polo and can outpace a stock Polo GT. This car has been so addictive that one of my friends sold his Celerio and picked up the same car from Kerala, though he lives in Bangalore. The exact statement after his wife drove the car was, "Wow, this car feels so smooth compared to the Celerio". We just brought that car home for Diwali on Sunday. All the back-end work was done like clockwork while we were getting this car for him!

His new steed is called Coral! Here's a pic of his steed

Had Ford Global leadership been a bit more patient and placed proper car guys(including yours truly ) in the leadership of Ford India, their products would have run circles around the competition. Way too advanced cars for its times within the reach of a common man. Even now, they aren't too late, they can shake the market as there are several million folks out there in our country who want a car only for its sheer driving pleasure and not gadgetry.

Lately, the car culture is catching up quite fast in India and the mods done on the cars and the supply chain for these mods can be classified as a separate industry of its own.

I will keep this thread updated as frequently as possible as this car is going to be a keeper and it is a literal sleeper on the roads. That sync 3 will soon be in the Figo. If possible, even paddle shifters might make their way onto this Figo. Plus, if anyone else owns this gem, please ping me. I would love to see your steeds. Till then, keep revving and a Happy Diwali.

Sometimes this bad kid is an outlaw too.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The nearest Ford ASC is 8 hrs away in Mandi.

BHPian Candy$Cars recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

My brother's Figo is making this noise when the car is in accessory/on position and also when the engine is on. We are in Chamba(HP) and need to return home tomorrow - 4 hours journey. The nearest FORD ASC is 8 hrs away in Mandi.

Can Someone tell what the noise is and if it is safe to continue our journey back home?

Here's what BHPian Jeroen had to say on the matter:

That is a weird noise.

As it also shows up with the key in the ACC/On position it must be something that is electrically driven. I don't recognize the sound as such. But is easy to troubleshoot where it comes from. Just pull the fuses one by one. Go with the fuses with the highest rating down to the lowest. As soon as the noise disappears you have identified what is making the noise.

Are any aftermarket accessories installed?

Good luck.

Jeroen

Here's what BHPian MT_hyderabad had to say on the matter:

The noise is from something that only should start when the engine is on. May be water pump or any fan etc.

Due to some wiring problem, it is starting without the engine turned on.

If I were you, I will drive to the nearest mechanic and get it checked. I don't have to go to authorised service centre for that.

You should not investigate further with the engine off, as that part may run dry and get damaged.

With the engine on condition your car should drive normally.

Here's what BHPian svsantosh had to say on the matter:

I think it is a petrol engine right? I suspect the coils have gone kaput. Else if it is the diesel pot check the injectors. The Rhythm/Beat is very similar to the firing sequence.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The only reason I'm not too keen on the VW Polo is because it is just too common.

BHPian Yash390 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

As cringe as it may sound, I've always had the need for speed. In gear acceleration, driving dynamics, 0-100 times are the things I've primarily looked for in cars(and bikes) whenever reading reviews. Things like wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, auto headlamps, wipers, and heated/ventilated seats never fascinated me. Don't get me wrong, these are definitely good to have features but are they a priority for me when making a car purchase? A big NO. The problem is, none of the cars in my family could ever satiate the so-called petrolhead in me. So now that I've shared my sob story, let me give you a brief history of the cars my family has owned and I myself have driven extensively.

Honda City GXi (2005-present, 1.3L km and still running strong, the family's beater) - Been on numerous long-distance road trips in this car, and have a soft spot for it especially because I learnt driving in it.

• Pros - smooth, tractable engine (77hp iDSI is weak by today's standards, definitely feels underpowered now), comfortable seats, huge boot, good ergonomics, well laid out cabin, decent interiors
• Cons - wallowy suspension, completely devoid of torque, not being the iVTEC, you have to keep the A pedal pushed to death if you want it to move quickly

XUV500 W8 AWD (2013-2022, 93k km) - This was an impulsive purchase, just because my mom 'liked how it looks' and she wanted a 7 seater for family trips.

• Pros - impressive engine, very very refined for a diesel SUV although 140hp/320Nm is ordinary by today's standards, feature-loaded, insane 2nd-row space, value for money, interiors held up well in 8½yrs of rough use. It was my first time driving a diesel and the torque just blew me away, the only car we've owned which has given me that 'kick'.
• Cons - bouncy suspension, notchy 1st gear, non-existent boot with the third row up, just bulky to drive in a city with narrow roads (not the car's fault, I know)

Honda City ZX CVT (2021-present) - bought it as a replacement for the XUV as nobody liked driving it, too bulky for narrow city roads, the manual transmission was a pain, and the old City was just, you know, old.

• Pros - looks elegant, decent interiors, spacious enough, good ergonomics, big boot, decent engine, decent features, smooth CVT, extremely fuel efficient when driven sanely, suspension good for city roads
• Cons - high-speed ride not confidence inspiring, NA petrol requires one to stay in the top end for extracting performance, weak low and mid-range, mediocre NVH, unpleasant cost cutting like no wheel well cladding, exposed HVAC piping in the glovebox, exposed wiring in the boot, some hard plastics.

Like every other car, my family cars have their own pros and cons but I've enjoyed them to the fullest because that's what driving is to me, an escape. As you can clearly see from the list above, no car has given me the 'thrills' of driving yet, what we know as an adrenaline rush. For the adrenaline rush part of it, I bought a 2018 KTM Duke 390 and my god, what an experience. Just imagine the step up in performance after living with such sober cars all these years. Yes, the two-wheeler need for speed is somewhat fulfilled but what still remains is the four-wheeler part of it. I love riding and driving equally and would love to experience a powerful car now. Now that I'm capable of putting some money into that, I'd love to hear your suggestions. I always wanted my first car to be a brand new one but unfortunately, due to other financial commitments, it is a bit tough to make that happen right now so the pre-owned route is the way to go.

• What my requirements are - preferably diesel, reasonably powerful, good driving dynamics, solid build, mod friendly, good service network/easy to service at an FNG, maintenance and spares not too heavy on the pocket
• What I don't care about - resale value, interior/boot space, tech features (I don't want a 50inch ICE with 360° cameras or ADAS or self-levelling suspension or adaptive laser lights or the car wishing me a happy birthday)

As per my requirements, the car which made the cut is - the Ford Figo. Yes I know Ford is no more, the already existing car wasn't the complete package, it didn't sell as well as it should've. Purely from reading and watching reviews, I know that the diesel engine is a gem, delivers power in a linear manner and can be a hoot to drive if need be. Looking at the stock figures, ≈100hp/215Nm is quite good. Coming to the mods, there are tuners putting out impressive numbers on the 1.5TDCi, so a remap is a must. Tyres next, suspension, if I feel the need. Alloys and other cosmetic mods will be planned strictly only after performance mods. There are not many options in the market which meet my requirements so it all boils down to just 2 cars.

I know everyone must be thinking of the same thing, do I not know that the Polo exists? The only reason I'm not too keen on the Polo is because it is just too common. It is a wonderful car for sure, I've driven one quite a bit and I know how capable of a machine it is. Let's just say that my heart is stuck on the Figo. The budget including mods will be ₹8-9L. While this thread may alternatively be titled 'What Car' or 'Figo or Polo', I just want to know whether it makes sense to buy a discontinued model from a shut shop company hence the poll. Let me know what you guys think and if there are any other options I should be looking for!

Here's what BHPian madhukarmohan had to say on the matter:

Voted YES based on your requirements. You can also try Ford Freestyle which can be considered as the facelift of Ford Figo. Both these (along with Aspire and Ecosport) are powered by the same 1.5 TDCi engine. This engine has good refinement, excellent mileage and at the same time fun to drive. By far, this is the best diesel engine in the segment. VW Polo is also a good one to keep as one of your options.

Here's what BHPian blackbandit had to say on the matter:

I own a 2016 Figo 1.5 diesel. It is a great car and the engine and performance post-remapping make it a hard car to replace with. While I do intend to keep it till it reaches its end of life, I would not advise anyone to buy the car as of today. The service as of date is decent but I can clearly see it diminish as time is passing by. It is almost becoming a neglected area with dealerships just keeping the service centres for the sake of keeping it alive and I am sure parts availability will soon start to be an issue as well even though it isn't much of an issue as of date.

Here's what BHPian bhphog had to say on the matter:

Rightly said above by @blackbandit

I have a stage 2+ Figo, been on the lookout for the last 1.5 years and nothing comes close to the experience and smiles per km. However, I would not advise you to buy one unless you live in a few cities which have garages which are Ford champions. The Ford service is just for name sake, I could do a better job than them but they are the only source for genuine parts except a few distributors across the country.

While for a year or so you may not face any difficulties later than that I'm sure all Ford owners are bound to face issues.

Also, a well-kept diesel which may be 5,6,7 years old is hard to find.

Here's what BHPian jackofsome had to say on the matter:

Let me chip in too. Objectively. Even though I own a 7+ year old Figo 1.5D.

You will be addicted to how the car drives in the stock form let alone with a remap. The power on tap, the body control when you dip it into a corner, the precise steering, and the feedback of it are all superlative and better than a Polo in my books. Recently I would tell you, I drove modern cars - the Verna, virtus, seltos and the i20 N line. Were wowed by their interiors in general but once I came back, those wow moments faded once I started driving the Figo again. I mean it's unbelievable what 8-ish lacs gave you in and around 2016.

Sure there are quirks in the car- all the part qualities are not perfect, the boot isn't big at all and the headlights are a letdown. But these are all things which can be lived just because of the driving pleasure it provides.

In fact, I would like anyone to point me out to any car that is retailed for less than 30 lacs off the showroom floor which drives as good as the Figo.

Also, last time I was in NCR, service was absolutely a non-issue besides the car isn’t that complex I believe.

So you should get a Figo ASAP, the 1.5 TDCi and do the following (only for driving pleasure):

1. Put in 195/55 R15 sticky rubber.
2. Put a nice leather steering wrap
3. Get the engine tuned to at least a Stage 1+ and EGR delete
4. Get the Ford Figo S specific suspension setup (it's cheap)
5. Damp at least the 4 doors and boot of the car.
6. Enjoy the car and thank me later.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I tried driving the car on different roads just to be sure and noticed that the veering is constant.

BHPian AYP recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello everyone,

For the past few days, I have observed that the steering of my car is off-centre to the left. In its new default position, the car starts to veer towards left and if I forcibly keep it at the centre, the car starts to veer towards the right. This causes me to keep correcting the steering constantly and leads to fatigue. I have captured this in the above video.

This behaviour wasn't noticed earlier. What could have caused this and what is the solution?

A few points-

• I upsized my wheels back in April (from 175s to 185s).
• I checked the behaviour of the car after ensuring the correct tyre pressure. The behaviour is still the same.
• I tried driving on the other side of the road and also on various other roads, this new behaviour is constant.

Request all the Figo and Aspire owners to check if this is observed in their cars.

Here's what BHPian SteeringWheel had to say about the matter:

Two reasons

Alignment

Did you get the alignment checked recently? When you hold the steering straight, it is veering to the right, this may be an alignment issue.

Steering sensor

Newer cars with electronic power steering and stability control have something called a steering position sensor which sometimes gets disturbed for reasons I'm unaware of. The EPS treats the new position as the centre and defaults to that position. In your case, it is defaulting to the left. In such cases, the EPS needs to be calibrated which can be done by the ASC by connecting their scanner to the OBD port. I'm currently facing the same issue in my Verna and I'll get it corrected when time permits. In my case, the car defaults to the left but when I keep the steering straight, it goes straight.

Here's what BHPian Mr.Boss had to say about the matter:

From the video, it looks like the car moves straight but the steering wheel is off-center. I couldn't notice the car drifting towards the left.

If this is the case, alignment must have been disturbed recently (pothole hit, etc). Get it checked before suspecting the steering components.

Here's what BHPian Jeroen had to say about the matter:

Steering wheel got it spot on in his post. The most likely cause is something with the alignment or steering sensor.

Please note these are completely independent of each other, but must both be set up correctly. If it is an alignment issue the sensor might need re-calibration as well, depending on what was wrong.

In fact on most modern cars with electric steering, resetting/re calibration of the sensor after alignment is part of the procedure and needs to be done no matter what.

So if you find a shop that can do the alignment make sure they also know how to reset/calibrate the sensor. Don’t let anybody tell you it’s not necessary or the electronics will figure it out themselves. It won’t.

There could be other reasons as well, but apart from checking tires and tire pressure, a full alignment check including the sensor is most likely to solve the issue. If you’re lucky the sensor just needs resetting. Very easy, but you need the right equipment.

Here's what BHPian arijitkanrar had to say about the matter:

We have a Figo and faced a similar problem recently.

As many have pointed out, it's most likely a combination of the wheel alignment and steering position sensor.

Recently during routine service at the Ford ASC, the technician carried out EPS calibration. Not that I asked for it, but they did it anyway. And as usual, these guys are too cool to do the job properly.

The procedure calls for the steering to be rotated completely to one side and then to the other side. This way the EPS software learns what are the extreme limits of the rotation and what would be the center. If the technician misses turning the steering wheel fully in either direction or both, the software has no way of knowing what would be the correct center position and can lead to this incorrect behaviour of the wheel.

This is exactly what happened. When I pointed it out my SA said it'll sort itself out and the EPS will learn the new center. He asked me to drive for a few days and it'll be fine.

I went back and drove for about a day but didn't like it at all.

Went back to the ASC and asked them to do the calibration again. That fixed the problem.

And on the topic of wheel alignment, I make sure that I never get an alignment done at the ASC. The machine at this particular ASC (JSP Ford, Kudlu gate, Bengaluru) is never properly calibrated. If my wheels are aligned at this center, the car always pulls left.

I went to an alignment center near my home and clicked a pic of the angles before they were corrected. You can see that both the left and right wheels are incorrectly pointed by almost equal amounts to the right. This points to incorrect calibration or procedure at the Ford ASC.

Since then I always refuse wheel alignment at the ASC. I get it done at the shop near my home which does a better job and costs slightly less compared to the ASC.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Ford service personnel suggested the stock music system seems to have become outdated.

BHPian Lanuk@07 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I need some advice /help Concerning my Ford Figo 2014 Titanium diesels Audio System.

Whenever we connect Bluetooth and take a call through the car's audio system, there is a continuous whistling kind of disturbance that the other person or caller gets to hear.

I got it checked locally in Delhi as the Ford service centre guys said that it needs to be sent to Chennai. The problem got solved for a week or so but was back in the same capacity/level.

Eventually, I arranged for someone to go to Chennai which the Ford service centre personnel had suggested. It seems it is the authorized supplier /vendor for Ford. Upon diagnosis, the folks there suggested that it is a very old system and due to the new Bluetooth versions in mobile phones, this problem arises.

Now after exhausting all the possible options, I feel I need to get a new music system fitted. Since this is the first time I will be getting a system installed other than the factory-installed variant, I don't know where to start.

Currently, I am in Bangalore with the vehicle and will stay here for a year or so.

I need the guidance of fellow members on the followings:

1. Any recommended brands or companies which I can opt for?
2. The recommended products are normally plug-and-play systems or various wires will be cut to fit in? I am sceptical about the consequences of wires being cut and joined with tapes and other stuff. Have read so many threads on the negative aspects of such modifications?
3. Are Any reasonable shops or places in Bangalore where I can get this activity done??

It will be a great help if fellow members can guide me here! Thanks in advance.

Here's what BHPian swiftnfurious had to say on the matter:

Don't fret please - the solution is simple. You can choose either a single din or double din unit as you wish. If you need rear camera support, go for a double din; else a single din should be fine - cost also will vary based on it.

Lots of brands available to pick from - Pioneer / Alpine / JVC / Sony and the list goes on. All these will have a plug-and-play option, so nothing to worry about. In Bangalore, any good installers are fine - I used Sachin's Autoshop in Koramangala and hope they still are operational. Otherwise, JC Road also has lots of options.

You can also check with Ford service whether they can install it if you purchase the HU and give it to them. They shouldn't quite deny it.

Here's what BHPian PratikPatel had to say on the matter:

As @swiftnfurious noted yours is a very straightforward solution. You can thank your lucky stars that you are not stuck with the ‘Sync by Microsoft’ system. Then you would have no option but to junk the whole system and lose some functionality like auto wipers and auto fold of OVRM as I would have to in my Global Fiesta.

Since you now have the option of 2 Din, you can even opt for CarPlay and Android Auto.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Thought of getting rid of it, and posted the ad on OLX atleast 3-4 times, but new car prices scared me off.

BHPian Blow_Horn_Ok recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

The car has been ailing since the odo hit 80000 kms. It even broke down several times due to injector failure. Once a fng mechanic swapped the injector with other car but still it was never normal. At around 1 lac kms got the egr and intake cleaned along with suspension and clutch overhaul. That gave it few thousand kms of life but at around 1.09 lac kms, the car started to emit foul smell of unburnt Diesel and the NVH rose to all level high. Many times Thought of getting rid of it, and posted the ad on OLX atleast 3-4 times, but new car prices scared me off. Anyways I would have got pennies for a wailing old ford.

Took a chance and got the injector and Diesel pump serviced. Continental parts are not available with injector service stations here in my city so had to ship them in a box to Kolkata. Two of the injectors were completely down and required the the sensors to be changed.

Total cost along with service of Diesel pump came out at Rs. 21000.

The car is still with the mechanic and his charges would be additional. Got the sump and strainer removed and cleaned along with cleaning of intake manifold and egr. Couldn't click picture as my hands were too dirty to hold the phone. The gunk in the intake was beyond everyone's imagination.

The condition of injectors before service. Notice the diesel residue which explains that they were spitting the Diesel rather than spraying.

The car was started after installing basic stuff and was deeply relieved to see that there was no hunting, the original clatter was back and the engine sounded relieved and de-strained. It revved freely. Few other stuffs are pending and couldn't take the car out for a drive. Hope this exercise grants atleast 50k kms of life. If all goes well, would change the faded headlights, broken tail lights and touch up of battle scars.

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